a computer software

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a computer software" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would be "computer software" without the article "a," as "software" is an uncountable noun. Example: "The computer software is essential for running the new system efficiently."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

His father is a computer software consultant in Creve Coeur.

The New York Times

His father is a computer software programming consultant.

The New York Times

His mother is a computer software consultant in Katonah.

The New York Times

His mother is a computer software consultant there.

The New York Times

Stewart is 22 and employed by a computer software company.

The Guardian - Books

Her father is a sales manager in Burlington, Mass., for Ansoft, a computer software company.

The New York Times - Style

Students may use pencils, paints, newspaper and/or magazine cuttings, or a computer software program.

The New York Times

On Thursday, Harn, 29 of Newark, Del., was fired as a computer software engineer at Autotote.

The New York Times - Sports

Her father retired as a computer software designer at the Digital Equipment Corporation in Marlborough, Mass.

The New York Times

The bride's father retired as a computer software engineer with Bell Canada in Toronto.

The New York Times

Mr. Schrock, 26, is a computer software programmer in the San Francisco offices of Sun Microsystems.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the indefinite article "a" before "software". Use "computer software" or, if you need an article, rephrase as "a software program" or "a software application".

Common error

Don't treat "software" as a countable noun. Saying "a software" is grammatically incorrect. Use it without an article or find a countable substitute.

Linguistic Context

The phrase is intended to function as a noun phrase, specifying a type of digital application. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically incorrect due to the misuse of the article "a" with the uncountable noun "software".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "a computer software" is frequently used, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. The problem stems from using the article "a" with the uncountable noun "software". To correct this, you can either omit the article and simply use "computer software", or rephrase using countable alternatives such as "a software program" or "a software application". Although commonly found in various sources, especially news and media, adhering to correct grammar enhances clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

computer software

Omits the article "a" to adhere to the grammatical rule that "software" is an uncountable noun.

a software program

Replaces "software" with the countable noun "program", making the article "a" grammatically correct.

a software application

Similar to 'a software program', but uses 'application' to emphasize the software's function.

computer application

Uses computer as an adjective.

a software package

Emphasizes that software is a bundle of programs.

a piece of software

Uses the phrase "piece of" to make "software" countable.

software product

Uses software as an adjective.

software solution

Emphasizes the functionality.

computer code

Replaces "software" to refer specific code.

digital program

Replaces both computer and software with digital program, slightly broader term.

FAQs

Why is it incorrect to say "a computer software"?

The term "software" is an uncountable noun in English. Therefore, it does not take the indefinite article "a". It's like saying "a water" or "a information", which are also incorrect.

What is the correct way to refer to one software item?

Instead of "a computer software", use "computer software" without the article, or rephrase to use a countable noun, such as "a software program", "a software application", or "a piece of software".

Are there situations where "a software" is acceptable?

No, in standard English, "a software" is not considered acceptable. Always use "software" without the article, or rephrase as described above.

What are some examples of how to correctly use the term "computer software" in a sentence?

Correct examples include: "The computer software needs updating", "This company develops computer software", and "Our analysis uses a specific a software program for data processing".